Reclining chairs



1959 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 2,918,111

RECLINING CHAIRS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 3, 1957 INVENTOR FRIDTJQF F SGHLIEPHAOKE BY 47 U ATTORNEY Deco 1959 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 2,918,111

RECLINING CHAIRS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 3, 1957 INVENTOR FRIDTJOF E SCHLIEPHACKE TTORNEY M 1959 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 2,918,111

RECLINING CHAIRS V Filed May 3, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 /Z INVENTOR FRIDTJOF F SCHLIEPHACKE RECLINING CHAIRS Fridtjof F. Schliephacke, Berlin-Schmargendorf, Germany, assignor to Anton Lorenz, Boynton Beach, Fla.

Application May 3, 1957, Serial No. 656,828

Claims. (Cl. 155-106) This invention relates to chairs and pertains particularly to reclining chairs having a leg rest which moves into position to support the legs as the chair moves into reclining position.

It is an object of the invention to provide a reclining chair of the type described which is extremely simple in construction and which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

A preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side view of a chair embodying the ir1- vention, one side frame of the chair being broken away, the chair being shown in upright position.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the chair in reclining position.

Figure 3 is a side view of a modified form of chair embodying the invention, one side frame of the chair being broken away, the chair being shown in upright position.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the modified form of chair in reclining position.

Figure 5 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the chair shown in Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the chair shown in Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, the chair comprises a base unit comprising two similar spaced side frames 1 and 2 which may be rigidly connected together in any suitable manner, as by the connecting frames 3, 3a. The side frames may be of any suitable construction, wood or metal, and may be upholstered or not, as desired.

Located between the side frames 1 and 2 and supported thereon is a reclining seat unit comprising a seat 4 and backrest 5. The seat and backrest may be of any suitable construction, wood or metal, and may be upholstered or not, as desired. As shown, the seat is of conventional upholstered construction having side frames 6, only one of which is shown, it being understood that said side frames are connected together in any suitable manner to support an upholstered seat cushion 7. The side frames 6 extend parallel to the side frames 1 and 2 but are spaced inwardly therefrom.

The rear portion of the seat unit is mounted on the side frames 1 and 2 for translational, reciprocating movement with respect thereto. The leg rest 21 is pivotally mounted on the seat unit for swinging movement with respect thereto, and the leg rest is additionally connected to the side frames so that reciprocating movement of the seat unit causes swinging movement of the leg rest. In the following description of the mounting of the seat unit on the side frames and of the mounting of the leg rest and of the connections between the leg rest and the side frames and the seat unit, it will be States PatentO ice understood that the parts shown in the drawings on one side of the chair are duplicated on the other side.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the means for mounting the rear portion of the seat unit on the side frames comprises a pair of tracks 11 which are rigidly mounted on the side frames in position to engage the rollers 12 mounted on brackets 13 connected to the seat frames 6. The tracks 11 are provided with abutments 14 at the front ends thereof to limit the forward movement of the seat unit. Rearward movement is limited by engagement of the rollers 12 with the frame 3a.

In the embodiment illustrated, the pivotal mounting of the leg rest 21 on the seat unit comprises arms 22 rigidly secured to the side frames 23 of the leg rest and pivotally mounted on bolts 24 mounted in the seat unit side frames 6. Additionally, the leg rest is pivotally connected to the side frames of the base unit by links 25 which are mounted to swing on bolts 26 fixed in the side frames. In the embodiment illustrated, the said links are pivotally connected to the side frames 23 by bolts 27 and the links are provided with ears 28 extending at right angles thereto in position to engage the bottom of the side frames to limit the pivotal movement of the leg rest with respect to the links in one direction. If desired, however, the links 25 may be rigidly secured to the leg rest side frames in any suitable manner.

The links 25 also include arms 29 extending beyond the pivot 26 which are adapted to engage stop members 30 mounted in the side frames when the chair is in reclining position as shown in Fig. 2.

In the upright position of the chair, as illustrated in Fig. l, the leg rest is in retracted position beneath the seat. In this position, the leg rest is almost entirely concealed by the side frames 1 and 2 and the seat, and permits unobstructed access to and from the seat when one is sitting down or arising from the seat. Whenever one sitting in the chair exerts backward pressure against the seat unit, as by pressing forwardly against the side frames, the seat unit will move backwardly on the tracks 11 and 12 to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 5. In doing so, the backward movement of the seat unit acting through the bolts 24 will cause the leg rest to swing about the fixed pivots 26 to the position shown in Fig. 2, in which position, the lever arms 29 engage the stops 30. In this position, the engagement of the side frames of the leg rest with the ears 28 prevents sagging of the front portion of the seat under the weight of the sitter. On the other hand, a slight backward tilting of the seat unit is permitted. In the embodiment illustrated, the leg rest swings through an arc of about to bring the leg rest substantially to horizontal position. If now, when the chair is in reclining position, it is desired to resume upright position, it is only necessary to exert slight downward pressure on the leg rest, accompanied, if desired, by backward pressure against the side frames 1 and 2 to cause the seat to move forwardly, while at the same time the leg rest swings beneath the seat.

In the modified form of chair illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 6, the principle of operation is the same as before, but an additional connection is provided between the front portion of the seat unit and the side frames. Thus, the links 41 are pivotally mounted on the side frames 1 and 2 by bolts 42 and are pivotally connected to the side frames of the seat unit by bolts 43 mounted on brackets 44.

In this modified form, the link 45 which connects the seat unit to the leg rest is a simple link, the lever arm and ear of the previous embodiment being omitted. The link is pivotally connected to the seat unit and the went.

leg rest by bolts 46 and 47 respectively. In this modified form, the links 41 engage the stops 30 to support the seat in the upright position of Fig. 3 and engage he b men 14 saor e. se t. h re lining, position. The operation oi the modified, form is 2L8, previously described. i

It. will be understood at. t e, I Q fiQl m 132- ous v ifie x and embodie thi he. scope. $4 he s bip ed. claims I, claim. as my invention:

1- A. reclining. chair. comprising a base unit haying opposed spaced side frames, a seat unitlocated between aid frame means o mount n e. r a po ion. Qt. 5 seat n ns id b se. nit. or r ns atisnal and. rotational movement with respect thereto, a leg rest 19-, sst betw e said. side frames. and; hav Ka ser a piv ll on ec e ront ort n i. S id. eat, nit a d leg e being. e r c ed; eneath 3 39 se t uni in substantially horizontal, inverted, position when. the. chair is. in, upright position, and a, link having its ripper end pivotally connectedto said side frame. at a point above-a line connecting the axis of rotation of said seat unit with the axis oi the pivotal connection between said. leg rest and said seat unit and having its; other end pivotally connected to said leg rest at a point below said line when said chair is in upright position, said liplg crossing said line and being adapted. to. swing to a p95. sition. such that said pivotal connection to. said leg rest moves to a point above said line when, said, chair; movesto reclining position, whereby, said leg rest is swung downw rdly, forwardly an upwa dly ol l bsiflmi i horizontal position,

2. A reclining chair as claimed in claim 1 in which said link is pivotally connected to said leg rest and is provided with an car which engages said leg rest to limit pivotal movement of said leg rest on said link in one direction.

3. A reclining chair as claimed in claim 1 in which said link includes an arm extending beyond said fixed pivot, and a stop on a side frame positioned to be engaged by said arm. when the chain is moved to reclining Positi 4, A reclining chair as. claimed in claim, 1 including a second link pivotally connected to said seat unit and pivotallyconnected: to aside. frame.

5. A reclining; chair; as claimed in claim 1 in which said means for mounting the rear portion of said seat unit comprises a track mounted on the base unit and a roller mounted on the seat unit, and including a second link pivotally connected to said seat unit and pivotally connected to a side frame, said secondlinkengaging said track when the 'chair'is moved to re'cliningposition'i References Cited the file of this patent U I ED SIAIE BATENI 

